Synopsis: A shuttlecraft bringing Counsellor Troi back to the Enterprise crash lands on a planet that is inhabited by a being that claims to be evil itself.
In this episode, the crew of the Enterprise is confronted by an entity that claims to be the evil skin of a race of titans, that was abandoned on the planet so that the others could be seen as beautiful and good by others. However, in life this is not possible, nor is it desired, because part of our shadow, which contains traits that we consider negative or are undeveloped, makes us who we are.
Counsellor Deanna Troi is able to speak to the entity in a way that brings down its defenses because when it is giving voice to its rage, that rage dissipates. In essence this is how the shadow becomes re-contained on the planet. Troi explains this to Captain Jean-Luc Picard, and he is able to then address this entity, and just as confronting our personal shadows makes them less harmful, he is able to escape its power.
While this is off topic a bit, there is one comment I also want to make. This is the episode in which a beloved member of the crew. Lt. Natasha Yar dies. At the end of “Skin of Evil” there is a memorial service, and among the final thoughts Yar gives to her fellow crew members, she singles out Troi as teaching her, in that “I realized I could be feminine without losing anything” (Stephano, et al., 1988). This statement seems to project out into the twenty-fourth century the idea that being feminine is still considered “other” or “less than,” and we need to be aware of this.
Reference:
Stephano, J., Shearer, H. L. (Writers), & Scanlan, J.L. (Director). (1988, April 23). Skin of evil (Season 1, Episode 23) [TV series episode]. In G. Roddenberry (Executive Producer), Star trek: The next generation. Paramount Television.
Original post created 1 June 2021
mydailysoultrek 